WINSTON SALEM, N.C. – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC), which has nearly doubled its work force in Winston-Salem over the past three years, today announced the consolidation of its operations here into just under 153,000 square feet of office space on the Madison Park campus in northern Winston-Salem.
 
The new facility will house more than 700 Winston-Salem-based BCBSNC employees, up from 300-plus employees in 2003 and expected to approach 800 by year's end. The consolidation moves employees from three separate Winston-Salem sites into adjacent four and five-story office buildings in Madison Park, located on University Parkway near its intersection with U.S. 52.
 
"We have served Winston-Salem and the Triad for many of our 73 years in business," said Bob Greczyn, president and CEO of BCBSNC. "Winston-Salem is a great place to do business and that is part of the reason we acquired PARTNERS National Health Plans of North Carolina in late 2001."
 
The following year BCBSNC began coordinating operations at the BCBSNC Customer Service Center in Durham with similar PARTNERS operations in Winston-Salem.
 
"And now, as we consolidate our Winston-Salem presence here in Madison Park," Greczyn explained, "we have a stronger foundation for continuing our growth and success in this area for years to come. We're bringing in new business to Winston-Salem and we're adding jobs."
 
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina's membership increased significantly in the past few years. Currently serving nearly 3.4 million members statewide, the company has added nearly three-quarters of a million members since 2000. The Triad work force has served the customer service and claims administration operations needs of the growing membership.
 
BCBSNC has offered Winston-Salem personnel the opportunity to further their education through BCBSNC's Blue University program. The popular program pays tuition toward college courses, including a full Masters of Public Health degree program. Currently, of the more than 700 members of Winston-Salem's BCBSNC work force, approximately 150 are pursuing college credits at institutions including High Point University, Salem College, UNC Greensboro, Winston-Salem State and Pfeiffer University.
 
The Winston-Salem operation is also a diverse – and truly regional – work force geographically, drawing employees from more than a dozen North Carolina counties as well as two in Virginia.
 
"Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an economic success story for the state, as evidenced by the company's growth," said Tony Copeland, assistant secretary for business development and trade in the state's Department of Commerce. "This expansion in Winston-Salem represents a strong commitment to the Triad and the entire state," added Copeland.
 
"Since acquiring PARTNERS, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has only strengthened its presence in Winston-Salem. The company and our community are clearly a great match. We look forward to continuing to work with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina as one of our leading corporate citizens," said Gayle Anderson, president and CEO of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce.
 
 
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is a leader in delivering innovative health care products, services and information to nearly 3.4 million members, including approximately 639,000 served on behalf of other Blue Plans. For 73 years, the company has served its customers by offering health insurance at a competitive price and has served the people of North Carolina through support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Access BCBSNC online at bcbsnc.com.
 
###